Scottie Scheffler could become world No. 1 on Sunday

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Scottie Scheffler started the second round of the PGA Championship with a share of the lead. He shot 73 on Saturday, however, and will begin the fourth round four shots back of leader Brooks Koepka. Chasing down the four-time major winner will be a tall task, even for Scheffler, a former winner of the Masters and THE PLAYERS. But even if Scheffler can’t claim the Wanamaker Trophy, there’s a chance he won’t leave Oak Hill empty-handed.

Scheffler could replace Jon Rahm atop the Official World Golf Ranking with a top-four finish at the PGA Championship.

Scheffler, who is in a tie for fifth with Justin Rose, would become world No. 1 with a fourth-place finish if Rahm finishes in a two-way tie for 48th or worse. Rahm is T42 entering the final round. Scheffler also could become No. 1 if he finishes third and Rahm finishes worse than solo 12th.

Scheffler has been world No. 1 three times. His most recent stint atop the world ranking ended when Rahm won this year’s Masters.

Outside of a four-month stint where Rory McIlroy held the No. 1 ranking from October 2022 until this February, either Rahm or Scheffler has been No. 1 since July 2021. Scheffler first became No. 1 with his win at last year’s World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. He held the top spot until October and regained it with his win at this year’s WM Phoenix Open. Rahm took it right back with a win at The Genesis Invitational but Scheffler’s PLAYERS win moved him back to No. 1.

Scheffler bogeyed his first two holes Saturday, then added two more at Nos. 6 and 7 to shoot 4-over 39 on the front nine. He was 1 under the rest of the way, however, making one bogey and no bogeys on the final 11 holes.

“I did a good job of staying patient today,” Scheffler said. “On the front nine, I didn't feel like I was swinging it well. I was just trying to string a few pars together to get some momentum. I hit a good tee ball there on 10, and then I hit a good iron shot into 11. I felt like I found something in my swing there on 12, and I drove it really well after that, pretty much right down the middle of almost every fairway besides 17. That will be important going into tomorrow.”